AUSTRALIA TO MAKE CRT TO BRITAIN OF TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 March 1947, Page 5

AUSTRALIA TO MAKE CRT TO BRITAIN OF TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS

Canberra, March 5. The Federal caucus lias agreed to Australia making a gift of £25,000,000 (Australian) to Britain from funds in London. Mr. Chifley announced that the Cabinet had made the recommendation to caucus as a contribution to Britain’s war effort in and around the Pacific.

Mr Chifley said that at recent meetings the Cabinet had given consideration to various forms of assistance Australia could give Britain in her present economic situation. Australian balances in London, from which the gift will be made, are more than £200,000 000. It is learned that the British Government favours the form of gift adopted. Caucus members were told that it was impracticable to increase the Australian food export to Britain. Some members suggested that as Australia owed money to Britain, London funds should be applied to reducing the indebtedness

Sir Earl Page (Country Party) last Friday gave notice of motion urging the Government to make a gift of £25,000,000 worth of food to Britain. Labour Party members are complaining that he must have got wind of Government intentions, and the motion is described as an attempt to steal the Government’s thunder.

Evening newspapers “splash’’ the announcement of Australia’s gift of £25.000,000 to Britain, says a London message. The “Evening Standard" has a five-column front page banner headline with a sub-heading “Help from the Empire in Britain's economic crisis." The “Evening News” features the announcement in a double column front page panel.